Local Sports Apparel Powerhouse Tunnel Vision Launches Program to Introduce Area Youth to Creative Career Paths

Tunnel Vision, a well sought-after and locally owned sports apparel company, in partnership with its nonprofit arm, the Chase Your Dreams Initiative, is expanding career exposure for Anne Arundel County youth through the Visionary Program, a workforce development and training initiative focused on design, apparel production, and manufacturing. Related: Visionary Program – Community Workforce & Youth Development Initiative

Under the leadership of Kyle Williams, Founder and CEO of Tunnel Vision and Founder of the Chase Your Dreams Initiative, the Visionary Program introduces middle and high school students to real-world career pathways while building practical skills in entrepreneurship, branding, and creative problem-solving. The program combines hands-on instruction with mentorship to help students understand both the creative and business sides of the industry.

“Our mission is to provide early access to skills, mentorship, and career awareness—particularly for students who may not traditionally see these industries as attainable paths,” Williams said. “Long term, the Visionary Program is structured to create internship opportunities, job readiness, and economic impact within Anne Arundel County.”

A Comprehensive Eight-Week Curriculum

The Visionary Program spans eight weeks and immerses students in all facets of brand creation, design, and production:

Week 1 — Welcome, Mindset & Brand Discovery

Students explore the Tunnel Vision story and the fundamentals of branding, identifying their own brand’s mission, values, and purpose. Activities include icebreakers, a “Brand DNA Worksheet,” and preliminary brand concept sketches.

Week 2 — How to Start a Business:

Teens learn the basics of entrepreneurship, including business structures, naming, legal basics, and one-page business plans. Students create their business name, mission statement, and identify their target audience.

Week 3 — Logo Creation & Brand Visual Identity:

Students are introduced to logo design principles such as typography, color, composition, and symbolism. They sketch multiple logo ideas and receive group critique to refine their top concept.

Week 4 — Digital Design Session (Hands-On Lab):

Using tools like Adobe Illustrator, Procreate, or Canva, students digitize their refined logo designs, learning key concepts like anchor points, layers, and exporting files for professional use.

Week 5 — Apparel Design & Product Creation:

Students apply their brand to wearable products, designing T-shirts or hoodies while learning print placement, mockup creation, and production techniques.

Week 6 — Basics of Production: Screen Printing & Heat Press Lab:

Hands-on sessions teach students production fundamentals. Each student creates their first sample apparel piece using screen printing and heat press methods.

Week 7 — Social Media Marketing 101:

Teens learn how to promote their brand online, including content creation, storytelling, captions, hashtags, and launch strategy. Students prepare a three-post launch plan for their brand.

Week 8 — Brand Showcase & Mini-Launch Day:

Students present their full brand, from concept to logo to apparel, alongside marketing strategies. The program concludes with group reflections, photos, and certificates of completion.

Local Impact and Expansion Goals

Classes are led by Kyle Williams alongside Tunnel Vision Creative Director Comacell Brown. The program has completed eight sessions to date, with participating schools including Meade Middle School, Southern Middle School, and Annapolis High School. Organizers hope to expand the Visionary Program into a countywide trade initiative. A recent session emphasized collaborative design work, reflecting the program’s emphasis on experiential learning.

For more information about Tunnel Vision and the Chase Your Dreams Initiative, visit www.thetunnelvision.com and 

www.chaseyourdreamsinc.org.